The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Hour 2 - The Herd Hierarchy

Episode Date: December 17, 2024

Colin ranks the top 10 teams in the NFL after week 15 with one NFC team making a surprise appearance in the top 5 It's strange the Eagles keep winning while dealing with so much drama   Guest: Nick WrightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it. But, you know, tired and sick. Tired and sick.

Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy. Not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier.

This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the ice. Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Body by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert

tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight. When your hardest hit, it's when things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. Body by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum.

Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Kunky, his best friend, and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast. I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports.

And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown.

If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work, to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Thanks for listening to The Heard Podcast.

Be sure to catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in noon to 3 Eastern, 9 a.m. to noon Pacific. Find your local station for the herd at Fox SportsRadio.com or stream us live every day on the IHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR. You're listening to Fox Sports Radio. All right, here we go at Tower 2, live in Los Angeles. It's the herd wherever you may be and however you may be listening.

Thanks for making us part of your day. If you're driving around anywhere in the country, thanks for stopping by. For people who have not seen this, our studio, our tree department, I think that's who does it, chock down a couple of furs, and redwoods in the neighborhood, and they're all over our set. It is beautiful. Look at this.

Doesn't it make you feel warm and cozy? J-Mack is the sweetest guy. So during the break, basically it's a weird year for me and a family. I'm by myself on Christmas, and J-Mack's like, you could stop by, and I said, I said, do you want me to bring something over?

Wait a second. Are you really going to reveal this? Well, I said, I'll cater dinner. And he goes, oh, really, do you think you're chef friend would do it and I said I was thinking buffalo wild wings I did not even get a chance to text the family that we have a family text chat and I was going to put buffalo wild wings I had their I had their boneless chicken wings this weekend amazing I'm going to go to new boneless chicken wings diet that's all I'm going to

for buffalo wildlings yeah all right we do it every uh Tuesday Nick right around the corner it's the herd hierarchy here we go herd hierarchy time is now let's go the top 10 NFL teams According to college, number 10. Okay, I got to admit I'm kind of proud, Denver Broncos. Tied for number one scoring defense in the entire league. Lead the NFL in Sacks. They did not play well and won. They got outplayed by the Colts.

They won four straight games. Bow Nix is still in the growth period, but I said before the season, I did not buy they were a bad team. Sean Payton's one of the best coaches of my life. Bow Nix had 61 college starts. Mims, Cortland Sutton, Patrick Sertan, they got real dudes. Denver at 10.

Number nine. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I may have them low. I'm telling you, I wouldn't want to play this team. The Chargers hadn't allowed over 30 points in the game. Tampa went in, scored 40 easy. I'm telling you, Baker-Mainfield now, third in the NFL with 32 touchdown passes. Be very concerned about facing a team that can win by shootouts or win ugly.

And that's what they can do. You can't run on them. Yet this roster can run on you. This is a weird team. Todd Bowles, who's a really wonderful guy and an excellent defensive coach, is proving. He can get out of the way and let the offense be to the offense. I got Tampa at 9. Number 8.

Minnesota, seven-game winning streak. They are seven-and-one and one-score games. I think a lot of the story here beyond Darnold is Kevin O'Connell, who they call the Tonnell, Sean McVeigh. I think Kevin O'Connell is superb. and their defense, Brian Flores, number two, against the run. Number three and takeaways. Brian Flores deserves another job.

He does, because I don't think their defensive personnel is nearly as good. Is their defensive production? I think it's fine. The production is great. I think Flores deserves another gig, Minnesota at eight. Number seven. The Ravens. Listen, they have five losses by a combined 22 points.

A lot of it's been special teams. It's the best run offense in the league. I am rooting so hard for Lamar to do something in the playoffs because I don't buy this thing that he's not a great pocket quarterback he is. Now, I do think J. Mack touched on something yesterday. Derek Henry's productions come down a bit. These are long seasons. Running backs, you're seeing J.K. Dobbins, Derek Henry, Montgomery with the Lions.

This is a rough sport. They're the last unprotected offensive player. I have the Ravens at 7. Number 6. I'm going to move Detroit down to this. six, and I'm not sure they are six. They've given up 79 points in two weeks, and it's not because the coaching's bad.

They're running out of players. The defense has one takeaway in the last four games. Everybody moves the ball on them. They have 18 players on the IR. Again, they can only win now in shootouts. I think Green Bay this morning is the better team, and obviously Detroit has beaten Green Bay, but I have the lines at six.

Number five. You do not want to play the run. Rams, they are now healthy. No turnovers, no sacks allowed in two games. This offensive line is winning games. Seven and two since the buy. Okay? And when Stafford's got a healthy Puka Nakua, 17 touchdowns, four picks.

Kiron Williams, Stafford, Havenstein, Cooper Cup, Puka Nakuwa, Sean McVey. You don't want to face them. They are hot and feeling it. Number four. Listen, their defense is an issue. I know your falling in love with Josh Allen, folks. Detroit went up and down the field. The Rams went up and down the field.

Their defense ranks 22nd. Now, their fifth in takeaways, so they'll take the ball away. And I love Josh Allen too. But he's had like 900 yards in two games, and they lost one of them. You're not winning in February with this defense. They have got to get healthier. I think they're getting wrapped back. They're getting some of their back and back, but they are not good enough defensively.

Number three. The Packers, they're hot, they're healthy, and they are now a power run team. That game in Seattle, they turn the lights out on that thing after two drives. Eight and two since the start of October. Now, both losses were to the Lions because the Lions have a better team, but they don't today. I love Green Bay. When they hold opponents under 25, they're 9 and 1. and I think Matt LaFleur is on a short list of one of the most underrated coaches in the league.

Remember when he was at Tennessee? His reputation was he likes to lead with the run. He had Derek Henry. In Green Bay, this is his offense and his team. This is what Matt LaFleur knows. He is a run first. He's got a lot of Sean McVeigh and Shanahan. He likes the run game, Green Bay, at 3.

Number two. Listen, Mahomes is banged up. This team is still 10-0 in games decided by a touchdown or less. They still have the best coach, arguably ever. Mahomes probably sits this weekend against Houston, and then he'll be fine. I do worry about offensive tackle. They're not going to be great at it. Just keep your eye on this team.

They're getting Hollywood Brown back. I think the best of Kansas City will be the version in about 10 days when Patrick Mahomes returns. Number one. The most dysfunctional great team in sports, Philadelphia, a 10-game winning streak with their coach, getting in fights with assistant coaches. I mean, everything they do screams bad organization, and yet all they do is win. They fire Super Bowl winning coaches. Philadelphia is wild. Is Nick Seriani a good coach?

Did you see that defensive line coach getting in his way? Would you do that with like Andy Reed? Would you do that with Sean Payton? I mean, like, Philadelphia breaks every rule in pro football. They fire winning coaches. They let go of Andy Reed. The coaches screaming at fans. Drama in the locker room.

Players calling out the team on radio. And they win, and they're loaded. This roster is stacked. There's the herd hierarchy. I like Green Bay a lot. I know. You're shaking your head at Green Bay, aren't you? Didn't Buffalo beat Casey, like, I don't know, three weeks ago?

And Buffalo's defense now is worse. I think you're right on Grebe. I actually like this except for KC at 2. There's no shot. I don't even know if I'd have them top seven. Oh, that's interesting. Our next guest may have an opinion. You think you care about that?

Nick Wright is joining us live. Co-host, first thing here. Like, I'm to a point. Like, Kansas City's just a legacy vote. Like, I don't know what they're going to look like. I think they'll beat Houston with Carson wins, frankly, because I think Carson's one of the more talented backups. Does everyone have access to a different set of standings than me?

A legacy vote. Another way is they have the best record. They have the best coach, the best player, the two-time defending champ, and they have the best record. The Chiefs are being discussed this year like they're 9 and 5, but oh, well, you've got to give them credit. They have the best record. And no, J-Mack, the Bills didn't beat the Chiefs three weeks ago.

They did beat the Chiefs five weeks ago and 57 weeks ago, and 104 weeks ago as they beat them every regular season and the Chief's dog walk them in the playoffs. But if we're doing the head-to-head thing, then I guess Baltimore should be ahead of Buffalo because Baltimore beat Buffalo by 25, and the Raiders should be super high because they beat the Ravens.

They, of course, didn't beat the Chiefs, because only one team did. So let's talk about this for a second because this is now the second straight week, Colin, that you have left the Chiefs at two and have ahead of them a team who's coaching quarterback you don't trust. I told you if they played Detroit. in a Super Bowl, you wouldn't pick Detroit.

Detroit's now down to six. All the Chiefs do is win. Philly, if it is Sirianian Hurtz against Reed and Mahomes in a Super Bowl again, there is no chance you're going with Philly. There's none whatsoever. Like, I feel like I'm living in this alternate universe where everyone, your wonderful co-host included,

who was as wrong as anyone's ever been about anything about the Chiefs last year, and then in February was like, I will not make that mistake again. I'm sorry. Has now seen the Chiefs win 13 of 14 games, and they're like, I don't know how good they are. I got a pretty good idea how good they are. Pretty damn good. So that's my takeaway, and you got the Broncos a little too high, but you love Sean Payton so fine.

I do. Okay, so I was saying this about Detroit, is that if you look, I mean, the NFL is not the NBA. You play hurt, you yell at players. It's kind of an alpha league. And I think a lot of that is because you play outdoors, everybody's hurt, you got to play hurt, and the truth is, the power is in the coach and the GM, not the players. And so when I look at Dan Campbell,

I understand we love the reckless and the wild and the crazy. But onside kick now, you have to announce you're doing it. So the surprise of the onside kick is done. I watched that, and I thought, I'm hoping he did that because he didn't trust his defense because otherwise that was an egregiously reckless coaching move. I can think two things. I love the coach, but it is now time to pivot away from, hey, we're the little guy on the block. No, you're closer to IBM than the garage band, right?

So that's an important distinction. An important distinction is the underdog needs to. play the variance game, the favorite needs to avoid it. And so what can be the right decision if it's like, man, if this game goes to overtime, not that this was the concern there, you know, if you're a big underdog and you score a touchdown in the waning moments and extra point ties it to point wins it, there's a good argument. Go for the win because the more football that's played, the bigger your, you know, the other team's edge increases. But the Lions are now the favorite in a bunch of spots and still have an underdog mentality.

Underdog mentality can be good. Underdog strategy, not so much. But my concern for the Lions is two weeks in a row, Dan Campbell, on the fourth down decision against Green Bay, and then the on-side kick with 12 minutes left, forget the strategy elements of it, which I thought were flawed, and even the most aggressive analytical models say, even too aggressive for our taste. Dan Campbell told not just the outside world, but his team. Yes.

Yeah, I don't trust the defense at all, actually. Yep. And that's the defense that they are now going to have to try to win a Super Bowl with. And I feel terribly for the Lions. I do think it's injuries. And again, not every team's Kansas City that can lose their running back, top three receivers, top corner, left tackle, defensive end, and just keep chugging along. most teams it derails them.

And that might have been what happened to the, or is happening to the Detroit Lions. But Colin, there are a lot of, you know, ways for this Lions team to go from the Super Bowl favorites for the first time in franchise history to out in the wild card round. They are not locked into the one seed. They are not even locked into winning that division. If Minnesota passes them, then Detroit is going on the road to Tampa who beat them, or to the Rams who played them to overtime earlier. If they fall to the two, they could be playing Green Bay who just played them down to the final seconds a few weeks ago. Like, I think Detroit's an excellent offensive team that, unfortunately, the defense doesn't have the horses right now to make them a real contender.

So I was saying this, there was a moment in that Eagles game where Nick Sariani went to talk to a player and a defensive line, not even a coordinator, a defensive line coach stepped in his way. And I thought, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, that's not the way it works. Like, this moment tells me, and you would never do that to an elite coach. You wouldn't do that to Vrable. Tomlin, Peyton, Reed. Isn't that a sign that if they lose early, regardless of his past wins, Sariani's in trouble?

Well, so it's so interesting. Also, poor Big Dom. Big Dom's like, oh, you put me in a tough spot here. Like the one guy on the sideline bigger than me that's not a player is the one here who got an issue with. I don't know what I'm supposed to do here. So the Siriani stuff is so fascinating to me. Colin, because I am a, I know it is not in vogue these days to, you know, care about things like

wins and losses and your actual record. But those of us that do, wins are a coaching stat and his win-loss record is spectacular. So I have to give him credit for that. The flip side is, I don't know what he does. Kellan Moore calls the plays. Vic Fangio does the defense. It seems like A.J. Brown via press conference dictates what style of offense they're going to play. His game management is shaky, and he doesn't put out fires. He sends to set them. So I want to be fair to Siriani because the results, aside from the end of last season,

have been exemplary when he's there. But it is true that Philadelphia, it's been reported, considered, replacing him after last year. Yeah. Right now, the team has the number one scoring and number one yardage defense in football, the best running game in football, and two of the best wide receivers in football. If they, and I don't think they will, by the way, I think this is a deserved right now NFC favorite, given what's happened with Detroit.

But if they fall short, I just don't see a lot of scenarios where it's not either because of something ridiculous. Siriani did, or because Jalen Hertz, who's out here scolding the media, saying, oh, is that what you guys wanted to see as if it were the media that started that conversation, not his star

wide receiver and the longest tenured player on the team in Brandon Graham, but set that aside, I think it'll either because Siriani screws it up or Hertz comes up short. Yeah. So, I watched the Bears last night. And I think there are three, so I'm going to ask you the question. I ask

J. Mack. And let's just play along. There are three broken teams to me in the league. Bears, Jets, Giants. Broken. Chargers were a little broken last year, but they had a quarterback, and to be honest, in my lifetime,

Fouts, Breeze, Rivers, Herbert, they're always fun to watch. They always get the offense right. They were never broken. They just chartered a lot of wins into losses. Browns fans are like, we can't even get on the broken team list. Like, geez.

But go ahead. So I'm going to ask you this. You're Mike Vrable, who is clearly now that Belichick's in college, the number one. I would argue of the three, the Jets have the best roster. Excellent corners, pass rush, now two receivers, star back, and they found their left tackle out of Penn State. Don't love Aaron, but I think it's the best roster. We'll play along. The Giants have the best game day revenue and the best history.

When they're rolling, that is, they are second to the Yankees in that city. They are a big deal. The Bears have Caleb Williams. You are Mike Vrable. What do you tell your agent? Star quarterback, best roster, or the Blue Blood franchise having a rough decade? Yeah. The easy one is this.

Last place is the Jets. And I, you know, if one does believe in cursed franchises, the single most torturous thing and cruel thing to Jets fans is exactly what has happened, which is the moment they're eliminated from playoff contention. They see the version of Aaron Rogers. They thought they were going to get the whole time. And it might just be enough to fool that dopey franchise to bringing him back at age 42 and running this whole thing back for more disaster.

So the Jets are a clear last place. I think the Bears must go with an offensive coach, But that's not your question. Your question is, essentially, if Braybill were offered all three jobs, which one would he take? If I were Mike Vrable, I would take the bears. I would take the bears. Because I still believe Caleb Williams is going to be a great player. I think Caleb is having one of the oddest rookie seasons ever.

Like, he refuses to throw interceptions, and I actually think that's a bad thing. I'd feel better if he had been throwing some interceptions. Also, the dysfunction of the firing the OC, firing the head coach, all of that has worked against him. But I think they are going to go offense, which then means if I'm Vrable, I think the Giants are exciting. He's injured right now, but they have a franchise left tackle. Malik Neighbors is a great player, even if he's already kind of graduated to diva receiver a dozen games into his career. But Frabble get his arms around that. They have an excellent defensive line, and they're going to be.

able to draft the quarterback in the top two or three, which is where they're going to be drafting. So I think that for Vrable is what fits. I think the bears are the most attractive job, but I think that they have to go off and to try to pair Caleb with someone who can grow together. By the way, I, you know, I let you sit here and take shots at me. You know, I did get the Denver Broncos right. I'm going to be honest. Okay. So here's the thing. I wouldn't Listen, you did get the Denver Broncos right. I also, listen, their preseason total was five and a half. I thought that was insane.

But I would just, I would pump my Bo Nix victory lap. Sean Payton victory laps is fine. Okay. The Bo Nix stuff, I mean, I think Bo Nix is, you know, turns 30 this year, and I just saw him throw three picks and need Jonathan Taylor to drop the ball in the one. and the terrible A.D. Mitchell play. But listen, Nick Benito's an excellent player. Broncos are going to be in the playoffs.

So good job by Sean Payton. Good job by you. Maybe just one day. Let me ask you this real quick. Next year, if the Chiefs are the three-time defending Super Bowl champions and have the best record in the NFL, do you think you can find it within your heart to keep them at number one on the hierarchy? Is that fair?

I know two-time defending champ's best record need to see more. If they pull off the three-beat and have the best record, can they be number one? No promises. You know, it's just new information. Yeah, of course. See ya.

See you, buddy. Nick Wright. Yeah, Bo Nicks. Okay, so he's 34 years old out of college. I mean, you guys are so picky on stuff. If you, if you called your wife

and asked about my suggestion I don't have to check in on that. One more herd? The herd streams 24 hours a day, seven days a week within the IHart Radio app. Search Herd to listen live or on demand whenever you'd like. Hey, it's Steve Kavino. And I'm Rich Davis. And together we're Kavino and Rich on Fox Sports Radio.

You can catch us weekdays from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific, on Fox Sports Radio, and of course the IHeart Radio app. Why should you listen to Kavino and Rich? We talk about everything, life, sports, relationships, what's going on in the world? We have a lot of fun talking about the stories behind the stories in the world of sports and pop culture. Stories that, well, other shows don't seem to have the time to discuss. And the fact that we've been friends for the last 20 years and still work together, I mean, that says something, right? So check us out.

We like to get you involved too. Take your phone calls, chop it up as they say. I'd say the most interactive show on Fox Sports Radio. Maybe the most interactive show on Planet Earth. Be sure to check out Covino & Rich live on Fox Sports Radio and the IHeart Radio app from 5 to 7 p.m. Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific. And if you miss any of the live show, just search Covino and Rich wherever you get your podcast and, of course, on social media.

That's Kavino and Rich. Hey, it's us to Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, huge news? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to a...

We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, a pretty wide range of podcasts. starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name Hey Jonas, guys? I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. Well, we were thinking I'm originally calling it

one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast where people could call in and say, hey Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little Notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast.

But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an occupier Pella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, it's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never. seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends

stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court,

and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Crimless, we're joined by our first ever guest. Sorry, our first ever human guest. I don't think I could be in the same room with Shamrock the parrot. I'd be too nervous.

That's right. The very funny Will Ferrell joins Rory Scovel and me, Josh Dean, for an episode dedicated to the many crimes committed by people also named Will Ferrell. They called to his fellow officer for the nippers. What are the nippers? Very good question. No, I was thinking, would that be a good name for like a salad dressing? Simple assault.

And it's a play on word, salt? Maybe not. I say we invest in. There's only one way to know. This did not amuse the cops. By the way, normally the cops are amused, but this did not abuse the cops. Will even comes clean about some of his own

crimes. I didn't get caught. You know why? If you don't want to be suspected of anything, you whistle as you walk. Listen to crime lists on the IHeart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Here's something that should not be as complicated as it is. Getting a racist statue removed. And here's something

that should be a whole lot easier than it is. Getting a new one put up in its place. As long as there's a politics of race in America, there's going to be a politics of remembering the Civil War. To get to school, I had to go down Robert Lee Boulevard. Get to the grocery store, I had to go down Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you're an historian and you leave out half of what the history is, you're not doing your job. I'm Akila Hughes. In Rebel Spirit, Season 2 goes deep on both of those things, the fights, the politics, the people who won, and my personal campaign to add something to the Kentucky State House that's actually worth the wall space. We are more than our bodies. We contain essence. We contain spirit. How do you represent that?

They are just fueling a fire that is really catching. You'll see what I mean. Listen to Rebel Spirit Season 2 on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This holiday earned cash back, saveable offers in the PayPal app. PayPal checkout checkout out online. So easy. Don't just pay PayPal. Sponsored by PayPal. J. Mack with the news. No. No. Is the herd line news. Wouldn't be a Tuesday if we didn't gas up. Bo Nix, your favorite quarterback in the NFL. Colin, I mean, listen, got to give the guy props. They are the sixth seed in the AFC.

I was just looking into dead cap money, and I saw the Broncos have 53 million in dead cap money, according to various sites. It still winning. Still a playoff. It can be done. It can be done. Get a coach and a quarterback right. You're home for it. No, to the Atlanta Falcons. It can be done. Anyways, Nick did throw three interceptions against the Colts Sunday,

but Sean Payton knows he would have come through in the clutch anyway. Later in that game, when we needed it, you know, he didn't flinch. There's a maturity and amoxy about him, which I love. And I think it's contagious to the team. And when you have that at the quarterback position, your team knows you're in every game. and when you don't have it, that's pretty difficult because deep down in their belly, they know that that's not the case. And that's something, I mean, you notice with him this year especially and with this team.

Yeah, there's a handful of teams, I think, are a year away from being really interesting. And I think the Chargers in Denver in the same division need one more draft. The Chargers have to get more weapons. and I would say, you know, Denver probably, I would say has to keep building their front seven. I mean, Sertan is so good at corner. Do you think Denver has enough weapons? Because they've been games where they're under 250 yards of total loss. So Franklin's a rookie receiver, he'll be fine.

I like their tight ends and running back, like don't love. I've always been a huge Cortland Sutton fan. I think Mims is now becoming a star. He had that return, which was really one of the stories of the game. He can be explosive. Yeah. So I think they're fine. again, the stuff I think is

you got your rush head. Keep building that defensive front so you can go toe to toe with a better because listen, the AFC is about quarterbacks. So you've got to get guys that make their quarterback uncomfortable. So I mean, I think that's the way to win. And the NFC, it's

different. It's about rosters, like Detroit's roster, Philadelphia's roster, Green Bay's roster. So I think when you build in the AFC, it's about okay, we're going to have to face Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Patrick Mahalms, Joe Burrell. How do we make their life less comfortable? Yeah, you also got to keep up scoring with them.

My mock draft, which I haven't sent to Fox yet, it's not done. I have the tight end from Penn State, Tyler Warren. Oh, yeah. How good would he be in that Sean Payton office? That's a great call. I mean, I don't know if he'll fall. Currently, Denver's at 23. Will Warren fall that for?

I just love that guy's. Tight ends are, I mean, even Brock Bowers didn't go top five, and he's one of the great. He may be the best tight end out of college ever. Ever. He's up there, certainly. And Titans, it's a huge weapon. I mean,

Titans generally struggle as rookies because it's the first time they're asked to block. I mean, even Kincaid, year two for Buffalo. And he was great. You're like, okay, Brock Bowers' second game as a pro,

you're like, what am I watching? I mean, Kyle Pitt still hasn't popped. If you watch that Tyler Warren game against USC? 17 catches. I mean, I watched it. I need that guy. That was the one I was, yeah, that was not.

Tough, tough one for the Trojans. Next up, ahead of last week's Niners Rams game, Debo Samuel posted on social media, how frustrated he was about not getting the ball, doubled down when talking to the media. Of course, he had a huge drop in that Thursday night loss of the Rams, and Jerry Rice has called him out. I would have been pissed at myself.

I would have been pissed at the whole scenario. That ball that he dropped, after you complain about not getting that many touches, you cannot drop. the football because everybody is going to get down on you and they're going to come after me. It's almost the rule of football. If a wide receiver complains, he almost always the next week has a bad game or a bad drop. It is almost the golden rule of football.

It's interesting. It's the only position in football on a regular basis where players, even if you're in a winning streak, complain about touches. Running backs don't. Tight ends don't. Quarterbacks don't. I mean, Justin Herbert's never thrown a tizzy fit because they ran the football more than passed early in the year.

Receivers, that is the only position. Now, in some cases, like A.J. Brown and George Pickens, they are so influential that they do matter more. I mean, Pittsburgh's offense without George Pickens is pretty pedestrian. So Debo, our staff, came up with a six drop since week eight, tied for second most in the league. That's suboptimal. I'm just what, like, I admit I was wrong on Debo.

I said there's no way you can get rid of him. They kept him. It's been a rough season. I don't think he'll be on the roster next year, especially if you look at the purdy stuff. But he's going to have a really good fit somewhere. I would assume someone from the Shanahan tree. Well, I can see, Debo's fascinating.

That's a fascinating conversation because I can see an offensive coach. Now, I don't think McVeigh would go there, but I could see a McVeigh saying, oh, I could use Devo. I think it's the right coach. Like, I could see Cliff Kingsbury. saying, oh, in Washington. Yeah, like, we're not paying Jaden Daniels for three years. I could absolutely get Debo seven touches.

So you got Terry McClorn on the outside. I got Debo as a kind of a chess piece. So I can see when you're not paying your quarterback and you've got your star receiver and you've got a couple edge rushers, it's like Debo's a fun chess piece. After T. Higgins, Debo's probably going to be the best guy on the market, right?

No, no, no, no. Hold on. Well, Stefan Diggs coming off. the injury. Hegans is the best guy. It's a weird I don't know if you feel this way. I don't like free agent receivers because college football furnishes the NFL with

20 guys a year. But I think Debo is a very unique player and I could see, I think Washington and Cliff Kingsbury with Debo is the fit. I think that's great. It's better than mine. But if the dolphins move off of Tyreek Hill, you get

Mike McDaniel, Debo, Samuel, he's a tough player. He translates well cold weather, which Miami doesn't have a lot of. So in those games at the Patriots, at the Jets, at Buffalo, you've got a tough guy in Debo who can do running and receiving. So I like that, but your Washington one's really damn good. Next up is Travis Hunter is fresh off the Heisman trophy win. I know you love him, and everybody's excited for him in the draft.

Yesterday on Speak, Michael Irvin talked about how Hunter should not only demand the opportunity to play both ways, but he should be paid for playing both ways too. Fine, Travis Hunter, all jokes aside, I'm putting it out right now. You're not letting me play both ways. Don't draft. I'm telling you, no, I'm playing both ways. And in three years from now, y'all will show hey on tonne my money to me. You see what I'm saying?

I'm going to play both sides. I'm playing receiver NDB. Show hey, on tonight, my money to me. That's what I'm saying. He's a national treasure. Yeah, I, listen, I get it. He's going to go to a bad team. Let's say he goes to New England.

I get a locked down corner. They have Gonzalez already who's good. So I got two locked down corners. And I would say, listen, I'm going to use you on return game. and I'm going to try to get you six touches offensively. But I think it's really hard, because I understand what Michael's saying. I mean, quarterbacks vacation with their wide receivers in the offseason to get the timing down. The idea that you can have a part-time star receiver, it's a tough ask.

I think some quarterbacks can do it, but I think it's a tough ask. Well, it's tough for him because he wants to be a wide receiver, right? That's where the huge money is. Sure. cornerbacks get paid but not as much. I just, again, I'll go back to what I said yesterday. Let's say they're playing the Jets and he's on the Patriots. You've got to tackle Breece Hall in space.

You've got to keep up with Devante Adams, Garrett Wilson, and then, oh, by the way, go help get open against Sauce Gardner. It just seems like way too tall over order. I don't see it happening, but man, the kid is talented. Look at him as a receiver there. Oh, no, he is. He's really good. So our draft, by the way, J. Mack does this on your digital.

you're very good at this. I'm going to throw this out there. If the Raiders, if they sit there, the Raiders or the Giants go, we're going to roll the dice and go with Darnold. You could get a haul. You think one of them would go Darnold over Shadur? I mean, all signs right now point to the Raiders and Shadoor.

I'm talking to the second one. What if Shadour's going to go number one? What if you're not into the Camyard, backyard football stuff? You can get a lot for that. You can get a lot. to it. Sam Darnold tour of duty number two in the Big Apple over Cam Ward. By the way, Brian Dable, what he doesn't want is limited talent. He took a reckless Josh Allen cleaned him up. If you were to say Darnold's best version of Darnold in the NFL, isn't he

kind of a poor man's Josh Allen? He's playing so many games indoors. Now he's got to go outside. That's a good call. That's a fair. And again, like if Darnold flops or is it what he was in Minnesota, I think you're done. If you get Cam Ward, hey, we're going to build something. It's going to take a couple years. You've got to give me some time here. Self-preservation. Right, right, right, right.

That's a good call. That's good. That was a good one for you. I got you on the Washington one. That was a good one by you. J. Mack, with the news. Well, that's the news. And thanks for stopping by.

The Hurd-Lie News. I do think, I'll talk about it coming up next, but it is so weird when you have an NFL franchise. that goes against everything you want from a winning franchise, and they may be the best team in the league, the Eagles. Every time I watch that video of Nick Seriani and the guy on the sidelines, that usually means somebody's getting fired, and the team has a number three draft pick.

And instead, Philadelphia could be the best team in the league. Be sure to catch live editions of the herd weekdays in noon Eastern, 9 a.m. Pacific on Fox Sports Radio, FS1, and the IHeart Radio app. Hey, it's us, the Jonas Brothers, and guess what? We have some big news. What's the news, name? Huge news. We created our own podcast called, Hey Jonas.

We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. Pretty, yeah, pretty wide range of podcasts. We're starting a trend. But this one's extra special. So how do we actually come up with a name, Hey Jonas, guys?

I honestly don't remember. I think it was on a call about what we should call it. And we were thinking I'm originally calling it. one of the early names of our band before Jonas Brothers was... This is how you guys remember it going down? Yes. I have a very different memory of this. We were talking about a thing, a bit for the podcast,

where people could call in and say, Hey, Jonas. And then I wrote down on my little notepad, Hey Jonas, and offered it up as a potential title for the podcast. But thanks for remembering that, guys. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it.

Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and Friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, S&L's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform?

We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get. your podcasts. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast, point game is about defining the odds.

Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed. And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows, without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid.

He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get the flying. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, you go through a training camp with that Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball.

So listen to Point Game on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This week on Crimless, we're joined by our first ever guest. Sorry, our first ever human guest. I don't think I could be in the same room with Shamrock the pair. I'd be too nervous. That's right. The very funny, Will Ferrell joins Rory Scovel and me, Josh Dean, for an episode dedicated to the many crimes committed by people also named Will Farrell. They called to his fellow officer for the nippers.

What are the nippers? Very good question. No, I was thinking, would that be a good name for like a salad dressing? Simple assault. And it's a play on word, salt? Maybe not. I say we invest and we see. There's only one way to know.

This did not amuse the cops. By the way, normally the cops are amused. But this did not abuse the cops. Will even comes clean about some of his own crimes. I didn't get caught. You know why? if you don't want to be suspected of anything, you whistle as you walk.

Listen to Crime List on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Keith Giamanka seemed like a mild-mannered suburban dad, but secretly, he became someone else, a master of disguise who went on a crime spree. At the time, did it seem like a crazy idea? It seemed very crazy. But I felt so desperate

that I felt it was the quickest, easiest way out. Did you allow yourself to think about how it could go wrong and what that might look like? No, I didn't want to manifest that. I was trying to manifest success. Every family has its secrets. But what happens when you discover that your dad has been living a double life?

That is not the look of an innocent man. This is going to change my life and my family dynamic forever, because everything that had existed prior in my reality is now untrue. Listen to Deep Cover the Family Man on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. He looks to close in on the single season rushing record as he leads the Eagles against the commanders or the Vikings take on the Seahawks or other regional action. Check local listings for the game in your area, only on Fox. So it should be noted that sports dominates television. The only little blip when it doesn't is like election time every four years.

Then elections for a month or two or three do very, very well. But sports still dominate. So Major League Baseball ratings up. NFL ratings up. I mean, that's with Brady Manning and Breeze retiring. Up. College football up. WNBA exploding.

Everything's up. everything's up except the NBA and the floor has fallen out of the ratings why tonight is the Emirates NBA championship cup

Janus SGA zero buzz they even put it in Vegas the courts are all bright colors no buzz I'll watch it but it's interesting

David Stern people forget this The NBA was in big trouble back in the late 70s. That's when I was a kid watching it. They used to put the NBA finals on tape delay after the 11 o'clock news. I'm not joking. Tape delay. And then David Stern came in, a brilliant marketer, and he made it about the stars. The name in the back of the jersey and the name on the front.

And it exploded. And the question is, what has Adam Silver done to spin it forward beyond kind of pampering the players, always taking their side. This is something that's spoken about in the NBA. Adam Silver, they made the referees young and hungry, and it's poorly officiated, and we keep waiting for tweaks to the three-point shot because it's a hard game to watch.

This is where management comes in. I like Adam Silver. I think he's smart. All commissioners are smart. They all went to Cornell or an Ivy League school. That's not it. The question is, This league, last year the championship cup was big because LeBron was in it and the Lakers won it.

This year, they have not figured out what to do post-Lebron. So when Michael Jordan was huge and then left, they lost 50% of their ratings. Look it up. Because they embrace guys, Marbury, Iverson, the public didn't really like. Well, the guys now to embrace are unbelievable talents. Wemby, Yokic, they don't really want to be faces of the league. They don't really have any interest. They're international guys.

I mean, tonight the two stars are from Greece and Canada. Our domestic product, because Adam Silver has marginalized college basketball, bad college basketball. Well, that's how you introduce American consumers to your players. That's why we all love the NFL because we watch Baker Mayfield. We watched Sam Darnold, Aidan Hushison.

We watched all these guys in college on our favorite college programs. So by the time they get to the NFL, we're like fans. We love them or we hate him. Because the NFL Roger Goodell puts his arms around college football. It's free marketing. For some reason, the NBA resents college basketball. And so talented guys now come from international or a G-League that virtually nobody watches. So it takes you forever to get introduced to them. So I just, I think this is, it's very interesting. The league in the NBA's, the late David's turn in the commissioner used to tell people privately. nobody watches us until the playoffs.

And the NBA has not been like the NFL, this steady growth. And it's never been baseball where it was the national pastime. If you take out Magic Bird, MJ, LeBron, Steph, and Shaq, I'm not sure if you've ever, has the league ever been close to baseball or football. It's had five, six, or seven incredibly dynamic, often very personable players that We couldn't take our eyes off of. There's the Magic Bird rivalry. There's Kobe.

There's Michael. There's Shaq's huge personality. There's crazy Steph Curry. Like, we'd never seen guys shoot. There's LeBron James. So it's just, it's very interesting. You have the NBA Elimination Cup tonight. And, you know, the championship game in Vegas, you've got stars, and there's absolutely no buzz.

And so I think this is the job. I want to give Rob Manford a lot of credit in baseball. He got massive pushback from the purists. on the defensive shift change and the pitch clock. And now he's considering another golden at bat. People say it's a schick. I say it's innovation. And you know what?

The first two moves paid off. Ratings up. I found myself last year watching more baseball than I have in a decade. So you've got to do something here. I've argued for a long time. I would make the three-point shot. I would have the arc go into the bench. I would eliminate the corner three.

I'd move it out of foot. I think it's too easy. There's too many threes. I don't want to watch 44 threes. I want to see John Morant drive for the basket and dunk. I want to see Zion Dunk. And Edwards Dunk. I want to see the athleticism.

I don't want my most athletic guys pulling up from 28 feet. That's the move I would make. Have that arc that goes all the way around. Have it go into the benches about 10 feet from the corner. Eliminate. You can't defend. you can't defend anybody. There's just too many guys can shoot threes.

So, I mean, listen, golf had to tiger-proof courses. I mean, why do you think baseball got rid of the defensive shift? Because they wanted guys like Otani and Bryce Harper on baseball. They were hitting smoking line drives to right field, and the second basement was out there. So we've done this time and time again. I'm not asking you to raise the rim to 12 feet, but people tiger-proof courses. Baseball wanted their stars on baseball, so they said, You can't have your infielders playing in the outfield.

This stuff happens. The NFL changes their catch rule during a Super Bowl. It's okay to do that. J. Mac, your thoughts? I'll be watching tonight. I'm a big NBA guy. So I'll be watching tonight. This take probably won't be very popular.

But I would argue that inside the NBA, the show that everybody loves, has done more damage to the NBA in the last decade than anything. Forget about this woke and left and right. Yeah. Inside the NBA goes on every week and just trashes players. trash is the style of play. Colin, you look at any other show. MLB Network, NFL Network,

these shows, our network, we're all positive. We're excited. We're talking about the games. Inside the NBA, they just hammer the players. Charles Berkeley's on TV. The Rockets are in the final four for that NBA Cup. Oh, the Rockets don't know how to play basketball. They stink. They don't know what they're doing. But what are you doing?

You're damaging your product on a nightly basis, hammering it. Colin, globally, the NBA is fine. Much bigger sport globally than the NFL. In America. Yeah. The ratings aren't great. That's office. How's it doing in like Iowa? You could argue. Who cares? We're big in China.

Hey guys, it's us. The Jonas Brothers. I'm Joe. I'm Kevin. And I'm Nick. And guess what? We created our own podcast called, Hey, Jonas. We invented a podcast? Well, we didn't invent it. We just contributed to it. We're the first people to do podcasts. We get to ask other people questions because we're sick and tired of being asked questions. Well, sick and tired is a strong way to put it.

But, you know, tired and sick. tired and sick. Listen to Hey Jonas on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Just listen. We don't care where you hear it. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends.

Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Turn someday into right now with Buddy by Jake Radio, nonstop workout music and expert tips 24-7. Hey, head over to iHeart.com. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free right now. Awesome health and wellness tips 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Remember, stick to the fight.

When your hardest hit, it's what things seem worse that you must not quit. Don't quit. by Jake Radio, where hope meets momentum. Search Body by Jake Radio and stream it for free. Have a great day. I heart radio. The story I've told myself can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection.

This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown if you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole. This podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, it's Edwin Castro, also known as Castro 1021. And I'm Conky, his best friend and business manager. And we've got a new show called The 1021 Podcast.

I'm taking you behind the scenes on how I became one of Twitch's most popular streamers. We also love sports. And with the World Cup right around the corner, we'll be breaking down the biggest storylines ahead of the big tournament here in the USA. Listen to the 1021 podcast on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.

Guaranteed human.